To remain in Donald Trump’s good graces as one of his lawyers, it helps to be seen as aggressively fighting for his interests – even if, by doing so, one actually undermines them.
Take the multiple contempt hearings that have now been held in Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial. Rather than concede his client crossed a line, maybe confused about what was and wasn’t allowed in Judge Juan Merchan’s gag order, attorney Todd Blanche powered through with a “did nothing wrong and would probably do it again” defense, claiming a constitutional right to attack jurors and witness. It has, to date, resulted in Trump being found in violation new fewer than 10 times and threatened with incarceration.
